Evans clear for Games

Cadel Evans has squashed rumours that he suffered an injury in Paris last night. Australian media had reported Evans slipped on a wet floor and injured his knee during a post Tour celebration. Initial reports said that Evans' participation at the Olympic Games in Beijing were in doubt.

Evans confirmed to Cycling Australia that nothing was to the story. "That's what it is – a rumour. I'm flying home to Italy today and when I get there, I'll take my take my dog Molly for a walk and then go for a ride. I've got a race in Belgium tomorrow [Tuesday] and after that I'll be getting ready for Beijing."

Evans had stumbled, but did not fall in the incident.

A Cycling Australia official put the speculation to rest after meeting Evans for breakfast in Paris. "He is walking on both legs. He slipped on the floor, apparently, but he's fine."

Evans is also set to race in a post-Tour criterium on Tuesday before joining his team-mates later this week at the pre-Beijing training camp in Varese, Italy.

Evans admitted he is still 'a bit sore' from the effects of a crash early in this year's Tour de France and from three weeks in the saddle covering three and a half thousand kilometres but says he believes the Tour is good preparation for Beijing.

"I think riders who haven't done the Tour probably won't be going as well as we who have," said Evans, who last year won the time trial at the Goodluck Beijing road cycling test event less than two weeks after the Tour de France.

His stumble mishap occurred at the traditional post-race soirée, which Evans attended with his wife Chiara and his mother Helen Cocks.

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